Da Nang has topped the Digital Transformation Index (DTI) rankings for the fourth consecutive time in 2023. This positive result demonstrated the city’s great determination in implementing the Party and Government's policy on digital transformation.

The value of Da Nang's DTI in 2023 reached 0.834/1 point, an increase of 0.0338 points compared to 2022. Thus, Da Nang continued to top the three pillars: digital government, digital economy and digital society.

Also, Da Nang topped 5 out of the 8 main component indicators, including digital awareness, digital institutions, digital human resources, network information security, and digital government activities. The city also came into the second place in digital infrastructure and digital social activities, as well as finished in the 6th place in digital economic activities among provinces and cities nationwide.

Da Nang has implemented many models to encourage and support people to use online public services. IN PHOTO: Members of the community digital technology team in Thanh Khe District guiding people to use online public services. Photo: M.QUE

Position of main pillars secured

According to the DTI 2023 report, the average value of the provincial-level DTI 2023 was 0.6783, up 17.2% compared to 2022 (0.5763 points), of which all provinces and cities nationwide had a DTI 2023 value of 0.5 or higher and 34 out of the 63 provinces and cities had an average value above the average.

In 2023, 100% of ministries and provinces had an index increase compared to 2022, reflecting that the governments at all levels are making efforts in digital transformation.

This is the 4^th consecutive year that Da Nang has secured its top position in the rankings and led 3 pillars of digital government, digital economy and digital society. The main component indicators were still ranked high, however, digital economic activities reached 0.7262 points, down 5 places (from 1 to 6) and digital social activities reached 0.5881 points, down 1 place (from 1 to 2).

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, to achieve the abovementioned results, Da Nang has promptly deployed and continuously reviewed and updated synchronous solutions to facilitate people and businesses, thereby becoming a typical example of digital transformation and deploying online public services.

Since 2019, the city has built a Public Service Portal as a core platform to quickly establish online public services, and at the same time deploy smart public service monitoring through the Intelligent Operation Centre (IOC) from 2023. Included are services to monitor and compile statistics on the status of dossier processing by agencies, warning agencies that are processing dossiers that are close to the deadline and have not received online dossiers within 4 hours.

Since 2019, the city has issued a policy to reduce handling time by up to 50% for online dossiers; support the cost of sending dossiers and results to citizens via post; and issue Resolution No. 89/2023/NQ-HDND dated December 14, 2023 of the municipal People's Council stipulating exemption and reduction of fees when performing online public services.

At the same time, the city assigns annual online public service targets associated with the responsibilities of heads of agencies and localities; as well as recommends that businesses prioritise the use of online public services by industry and sector.

Regarding digital society, the city has deployed many models such as community digital technology teams; online public service agents through post offices in communes and wards; electronic residential areas, and electronic villages.

To maintain and promote the activities of community digital technology teams, the municipal People's Council passed a policy resolution to support the activities of the teams at the mid-year meeting in 2024, and also approved a policy for smartphone support for poor and near-poor households (99% of poor and near-poor households have already had smartphones).

Da Nang is considered a typical example of digital transformation by the Ministry of Information and Communications. IN PHOTO: Members of community digital technology team supporting people in using online public services in Ta Lang Village, Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District. Photo: M.QUE

Efforts in comprehensive digital transformation

Evaluating the results of DTI 2023 of Da Nang, Mr. Dang Ngoc Hai, Vice President of the Da Nang Software Enterprise Association cum Director of the Da Nang branch of the Axon Active Vietnam Co., Ltd., said that Da Nang has basically had a foundation in applying information technology for many years, which is favourable to promote digital transformation. The city's efforts in recent times clearly demonstrate its great determination to bring digital transformation closely linked to the economy and society through digital economic and digital society indicators, not simply applying information technology as before.

Regarding the systematisation of shared databases, although the city has many applications and data connections, updating and exploiting shared data in public services are still not completely convenient, he added. Therefore, Mr. Hai stressed the need for the city to concentrate on standardising data and fully exploiting collected data from people, creating maximum convenience for application deployment, aiming at the goal that people only need to provide data once and this data can be retrieved in all public service application platforms.

In addition, the city needs to continue to promote a friendly business environment, encourage innovation and cooperation, train and attract high-quality human resources, support research and development initiatives as well as access to funding sources, projects and talent development programmes, he emphasised.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Thach, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Information and Communications, said that the municipal Party Committee has just issued Plan No. 275-KH/TU dated February 6, 2025 on implementing Decision No. 204-QD/TW dated November 29, 2024 of the Central Party Secretariat approving the digital transformation project in Party agencies. The plan sets out many tasks and targets to improve efficiency and reduce work processing time.

Previously, the municipal People's Committee issued Plan No. 229/KH-UBND dated November 14, 2024 on implementing digital transformation tasks in the city in 2025 with the theme "Focusing on building a digital society; developing digital citizens, equipping people with necessary knowledge and skills to effectively participate in the digital economy and digital society, ensuring that no one is left behind".

"In 2025, the municipal Department of Information and Communications will develop a digital transformation project to contribute to promoting and creating momentum for socio-economic development in the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to 2035. In term of digital government, the city will continue to deploy and enhance the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual assistants in management and operations. As for the digital economy, the department will coordinate with relevant agencies to develop the digital economy in all fields, with priority on high-tech industry, tourism, seaports, logistics, information technology industry, electronics, telecommunications, etc” Deputy Director Thach revealed.

Special attention will be paid to developing a digital society and a digital transformation space, and experiencing digital products and digital technology services for organisations and people to easily access, he noted.

Reporting by MAI QUE - Translating by M.DUNG